Aerial machine.



H. s. BOOTH. AERIAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION IIFLED APR.26,1904.

f Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR H. S. BOOTH.

AERIAL moms. APPLICATION FILED APB. 26,1904.

907,120, 7 Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

'e' sums-sum 2.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR I H. 'S. BOOTHr AERIAL MACHINE. APPLICATION IILBD-APB.26,1904.

Patented Dec.22,1.;908.

a SHEETSSHEET a.

WITNESSES, Y

H. S. BOOTH. AERIAL MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.26,1904.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

F/GS.

H. S. BOOTH. AERIAL MAUHINE. APPLICATION FILED APE.26,1904'.

wnNEss Es. I VINVENITOIR Patented Dec. 22, 1908. v

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 To all whom'qlt'may concern: '7

- HENRY S. BOOTH, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

AER'IAiL MACHINE.

Be it known that I, HENRY SHEPL nY Boo'rn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident .of Manchester, inthe county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial Machines, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to that class or type of aerial machine which is raised and maintained in position in the air without an aer- "ostat by means of a series of wings and air planes acting upon the air and is designed more particularly to provide improved means for applying force to such wings, for

accumulating force to be applied theretoand .also for steering and maintaining the equi-- librium of'the machine.

The invention consists essentially in a machine constructed with large wings comprising a number of small air planes mounted upon'two or more pairs of coupled cranks to which a rapid downward thrust is applied and in means whereby a very greatly intensified, force or power is applied to the wings during a portion of their downward thrust, such power being accumulated during the other portion of the stroke and released to tion showing another arrangement of the air ive effectv at the desired moment, and also 1n steering mechanism comprising rudders placed at both ends of the machine capable of being rotated completely round upon their axes.

The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which as an example one form of a machine is shown.

Figure 1. side elevation. Fig. 2. end elevation. Fig. 3. plan. 4. enlarged end elevation of part of the machine showing details of driving mechanism. Fig. 5. plan of part of the wings. Fig. 6. side elevation showing detail of the mechanism for setting the wings at an inclination. Fig. 7. side elevation showing a modified cgnstruction of the win s. Fig. 8. end elevation showing a modifie arrangement of the wings. Fig. 9. side elevation of same. Fig.'10. end elevaplanes. Fig. 11. plan of same. Fig. 12. side elevation showing a further modification.

The'machine is constructed ofany suitable shape of lighttubular framework A braced together and fitted with a set of aeroplanes B and a set of wings C to act upon the air, the aeroplanes B being fixed or ata- Specification of Letters Patent. Application flied a ruiae, 1904. Serial No. 205,062.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

tiona-ry relative to'the framing A and the wings C being given an oscillating or recipe rocating movement so as to alternately move up and down. The aeroplanes B serve to maintain the machine or retard its downward movement and the wings (J serve to elevate it-or propel it in an upward and forward direction, also to maintain it in elevated position and stop or retard the forward movement in order to bring the machine to rest.

Each of the aeroplanes B and the wings C light material such as 'oil silk mounted in a framed, to oifer resistance to the air when moving in a downward direction and to al-. lowthe air to pass through when movingin an upward direction. These air planes D may be strips of silk secured along one edge by a Wire the other edge being free and restin against a wire or a number of cross wires to imit its movement.

Each frame 0! of the wings O is mounted upon a driving crank E and two or more auxiliary cranks E coupled together by the sides of the frame (:3 the rotation of the cranks E, E giving the'desired movement thereto. Theends of the crank move in a circular pathgivingwhat may be termed a rotary movement to frames 03 and wings C. The cranks E are rotated at the desired velocity by a driving chain f driven by a motor F or other source of power such as a treadle." By thus mounting the osc llating arebuilt up of a number of air planes D of or reciprocating wings C upon the crank-s I coupled together arotary motion is obtained with a substantially downward and upward movement of the wings, thus securing a rapid downward or partially, down- Ward thrust upon the air .without the shock and loss ofpower entailed by a direct or rectilinear up and down movement. The louvers or air planes D can be extended to give surfaces of any desired extent which press upon the air during the downward stroke and by the action of the louvers opening automatically present but little resistance to the air on the upward stroke.

The cranks E may be A pivoted to the frame A or on a bar 6 as shown in Fig. 6, so that the framed carryin -thelouvers or air planes D of the wings may be set at any inclination to the frame A or aeroplanes B. .The ad'ustment of the angle can be effected whiie the cranks E are in motion. As shown in Fig. 6, the combination of getner with the frame dand bar (2 which carries them are fitted upon the main shaft forming a common center 65 and by cores (1 or other suitable-means either. end can be raised or depressed thus altering the; angle of inclination, at which the louvered surfaces of'the wings G will act on the air. Or-

the louvers or air planes D of the Wings 0 maybe mounted on frames. d? pivoted or hinged at one end as in Fig. 7, tne'angle of inclination of which can be adjusted; thus ad usting the frame carrying,- the louvered surfaces of the Wings 0 at an angle the pressure on the .air canoe arranged to produce an upward; and forward motion or an upward or backward motion.

As shown in Big. 7. the frame which carries the cranks 'may be rigidly connected to. the frame A and the louvered surfaces D made in sections or lengths on the-frames d the latter being pivoted to the frame d,-

and capable of being raised or depressed and the'angie of inclination altered by the worm (j an wheel 9. To the spindle of'the worm Ur a friction roller g is attached, and friction plate 9 is mounted upon the frame. by pressing the friction plate against the roller 9 during the portion 01' the upward stroke of the cranks, when the roller is rising nearly'vertically it will be rotated and rotating the worm U. will alter the angle of inclination of sectional frame d3.

The motor 1 driv'esa crank shaft f on which is placed the driving wheel f over which passes the driving chain f to the driven wheel The crank shaft f is connected tothe driving wheel f by a clutch f so that the wheel may be thrown into and out of gear at any time. A fly wheel K placed 'in a horizontal plane on a vertical spindle la is driven by a band or chain from the'crank-shaft f. By thus placing the flywheel the 'gyrostatic action when running at a high velocity will tend to keep the machine in a horizontal plane while permitting it to be freely steered tothe right or to theleft.

By means of the clutch f the motor F and the fly wheel K can be disconnected from the driving wheel f andchai'n f and the power be all applied to raise the rotation of the fly wheel to a high, velocity thereby storing up a great "amount of force in the fly wheel, which can be applied for a short periodof time when starting the machine or in an emergency when an-available force is required considerably above the normal motive powerw When the inertia of themachine is overcome as less force will then be required to keep it in motion the force can be ap lied at longer intervals and for shorter gerio s until the maximum velocity of the y wheel is restored, when it will again form a reserve force for use inan emergency.

cranks and air planes 'of the wings C tonumber of louvers or air planes ofthe machine in the intervals bep The fixed aeroplanes B composed of a retard the falling tween the downward strokes of the wings C and when such surfaces are at rest. The aeroplanesB are above the wings or they may be placed at either side of them as may be found most convenient. The aeroplanes B may be louvered in the same manner as the wings'C so as to allow any suction of air caused by the thrust of the wings to be drawn through the louvers and to prevent the,- resistance to the upward .movement of the machine that would be caused by air planes with fixed surfaces. At each end of the machine rudders M are fitted to steer the machine in either direction. The rudders M are arranged to turn completely round on their. axes to enable the machine to be steered from either end in varying currents of air" so as to present the supported edge of the rudder to the initial pressure of the wind should the wind be traveling faster than the machine. They may be operated by cords m passing round pulleys m m referably. placed over or The central pair. of cranks E is fitted to the shaft E provided with an auxiliary or the shaft being driven secondary crank 92,

the chain f. The chain by the wheel P from wheel 1' is fitted internally with a free wheel clutch to permit of the shaft Ebeing driven at a greater speed than the crank without having to accelerate the rotation of that shaft or the motor F or the fly wheel K.

To the auxiliary crank a of the shaft E is coupled the piston rod or connectin rod N of an auxiliary motor N by which the shaft E and with it the cranks E canbe rotated independently of the motor F. To elevate the machine the wings C'have to be shaft f forced downwards'at a high velocity and to maintain such a degree of velocity con tinnously would require enormous power.; I find that by applying an intensified amount of forcein the nature of a jerk-while the wings'G are moving through a portion of their downward stroke the required velocity and effect are produced with a reat reduction of force. This intensified own stroke is obtained by the auxiliary motor N acting upon the crank a of theshaft EC upwardstroke of the crank it as the air surfaces C are rising and the full force of the stroke of the motor is exercised in a down- .ward direction on the 'top center being traveling in a nearly vertical direction. The

velocity of the downward stroke will be governed solely by the resistance of the air to The 1 charge of the motor N is compressed by the the movement. of the air. surfaces C as the free wheel i will allow their speed to be acby the drag of the.

celerated unrestrained motive mechanism.

Instead of 'a motor N an auxiliary spring motor'N Fig. 12 may be employed togiv the intensified down. stroke orIadditiona force to the'downward movement of the wings C. Such spring motor may "befixed between the wings C and "the. frame of the machine so that the springs are compressed or extended on the upward" stroke and" will exercise their full force, inadownward d1- rection on the top centerbeing passed-.' The to-auxiliary cranks on the spin rotary cranks as by giving a leadto' the lat- 'ter the springs will come intoaction'lwhen attached springs may be more conveniently les of the the louvers. are closed by the downward mo tion and. the wings C receive the full force when they are traveling in .a'nearly vertical;

direction. .The wings may be placed at the sides of theframe', as in Fig.- 4, or between the sides of-the frame asin Fi ,8 It is-to be understood that the detacha legfiy. wheel in which the force or power can'xbe aren mulated and applied at intervals may be em ployed alone 'without the auxiliary motor or v a wing C is placed between the sides of-- tingthe clutch f into gear with the wheel f interfering with. the motlve mechanism.

springs. I In a modification shown in Figs! 8 and 9 frames A instead. of at the sides as inFig. 4.

In the modification shown in Figs.- 10 and 11 the movable air surfaces C are placedtransversely to'the longitudinal axis of the machine instead ofparallel therewith as in the other figures.

The machine is operated as follows :-On the motive shaft fbeing rotated the. fly

wheel K is brought to a high velocity :so as.

to accumulate a large amount of force and byits gyrostatic action to keep themachine' On put=- in L a horizontal position or plane.

pulley f the cranks E and the wings C are rotated.

' The piston of the motor N will be, moved to draw in a charge of air and vapor and compress it and then an explosion bf the vapor and air will berefi'ected in the usual way. On the explosion taking lace the piston will drive the cranks E and withthem the wings C downwards with great velocity, the free allowing this to be done without witnesses.

When the speed of the cranks is'reduced by the pressure of the air on the wings the free wheel will come into operation and continue to rotate them thus bringing about a similar cycle until a further explosion takes place in the. motor N. When sufiici'ent speed is at- :,.'tained the supply of explosive material inay be cut off the forceof the aircompressed in the cylinder on the up stroke of the piston relation to the pressure they exercise on the air, cranks-upon which the frames and wings are mounted, .an auxiliary motor acting on the. cranks frames and wings only'duringtheir downward movement to. eatly in- Ctensify the force applied to the wingsduring theirdownward motion and a free-wheel or slip motion to permit the auxiliary motor .to

-What I claim as my invention and desire and wings,' which is chiefly upward and downward in v i exercise its full force unrestrained by the inertia of the main mot-or substantiallyas described.

2.In a; flying machine the combination with 'a structural frame A of a plurality of aeroplanes B, stationary relative to the framing A; a plurality of wings C mounted on' cranks the rotary movement of which "is converted into a reciprocating upward-and downward movement, rotarycranks E upon which the wings C are mounted,- a motor F for driving the'win s, a flywheel K placed to rotate horizontal y with means for disengaging it from the movable air surfaces an auxiliary motor N- to give intensified force to the wings on the downward move-- ment and rudders. M capable of making a complete rotation substantially as described and shown.

. In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing H. s.-BooTH.- Witnesses: I

J. OWDEN OBRIEN,

H. VBARNFATHER. 

